The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Episode: Day 36: The Kingdom and the Gospel (2026)
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mark-Mary explores the third Luminous Mystery—The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion—by unpacking the deep biblical meaning behind “the Gospel” and “the Kingdom of God.” Drawing from Pope Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth, he emphasizes how Jesus’s message is not only informative but performative, actively making present the reign of God in history. Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to grow in confidence and peace by meditating on the living reality of God’s action in our lives through Jesus Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to the Luminous Mystery

• Scripture Focus: Mark 1:14-15 — “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.’”
  (01:07)

A Word Study: Gospel & Kingdom

• “Gospel”:
  • Comes from the Greek ‘evangelion,’ often translated as “good news.”
  • It's more profound than just news—historically used by Roman emperors to proclaim not just triumph, but a “saving message” that is meant to do something, not just say something.
  • “The evangelists are correcting the use of this term and actually putting it in its proper place...what you think you are doing, Jesus is actually doing.” (02:29)
  • Jesus’s Gospel is performative: His words (“Be healed,” “Lazarus, come out,” “This is my body”) actually accomplish what they declare. (03:30-04:57)
    • Quote: “Jesus's words and his deeds make something happen.” (03:54)
• “Kingdom”:
  • The English “kingdom” translates the Greek ‘basileia.’
  • Not just a place or society, but an active lordship—an event, not just a realm.
  • “Kingdom...it’s more of a verb than a noun.” (05:45)
  • Pope Benedict XVI Quote:
    • “When Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God, he is quite simply proclaiming God and proclaiming him to be the living God who is able to act concretely in the world and in history and is even now so acting.” (06:03)
    • “He is telling us God exists and God is really God, which means that he holds in his hands the threads of the world.” (06:32)

Jesus as the Definitive Lord and Savior

• Jesus’s proclamation is that the true Gospel, the true saving message, is found in him—not earthly rulers.
• The “Kingdom” means God’s active reign is breaking into history through Jesus—not just a future hope, but a present, ongoing action.
• “When Jesus says...the kingdom of God is at hand...the Lord is lording...the Shepherd is shepherding, the Teacher is teaching, the Savior is saving, the King is reigning.” (06:55)

Living the Mystery

• The podcast underscores that we don’t have to “save ourselves.”
• Memorable Moment: “The Lord is here and the Lord is already at work. He’s already reigning.” (07:47)
• Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to sit with and pray into the reality that God is God, and that in Jesus we “know him and have access to him...may this be a source of confidence and of peace for all of us.” (08:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Gospel:

  “You think that you are Lord, you think that you are Savior, you think that you are a redeemer... Actually, in fact, you are wrong. But this is all true of Jesus and Jesus Evangelion... a saving message that is both informative but also performative. It doesn’t just say something, it makes something happen.”
  – Fr. Mark-Mary (03:14-04:39)

• On the Kingdom:

  “Kingdom...it's more of a verb than a noun...it's God's actual sovereignty over the world, which in Jesus Christ is becoming an event in history in a new way.”
  – Fr. Mark-Mary (05:45-06:01)

• From Pope Benedict XVI:

  “When Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God, he is quite simply proclaiming God and proclaiming him to be the living God who is able to act concretely in the world and in history and is even now so acting.”
  (06:03)

  “He is telling us God exists and God is really God, which means that he holds in his hands the threads of the world.”
  (06:32)

• Encouragement:

  “The Lord is here and the Lord is already at work. He's already reigning.”
  – Fr. Mark-Mary (07:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:07] Reading of Mark 1:14-15 — Foundation of the episode
• [02:13-04:57] In-depth word study: “Gospel” and “Evangelion”
• [05:03-06:01] “Kingdom” (Basileia) as active lordship
• [06:03-06:32] Quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on the Kingdom
• [06:55-07:47] The kingdom “is at hand”; God’s saving action today
• [08:05-08:50] Call to meditate on God's presence as source of peace
• [08:51-09:56] Rosary prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc.)

Conclusion & Takeaway

Fr. Mark-Mary closes by inviting us to rest in the truth that God is real, present, and actively bringing about His kingdom—right now, through Jesus. Listeners are reminded that the Gospel isn’t merely words, but God’s power at work in history, and that our confidence and hope rest in His reign.

Final Encouragement:

“Let us just today sit with and pray with the Gospel. God is God. We know him and have access to him in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. May this be a source of confidence and of peace for all of us.”
(08:05)

For further prayer and spiritual growth, listeners are encouraged to meditate on this mystery and continue with the daily rosary practice outlined in the Rosary in a Year plan.